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Sequence to create 40 flat frames and 40 dark flat frames

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2026 9:47 pm
by yomamma
I have been looking at the Sequencer commands on creating flats. I see that you can create an averaged flat but don't see where I can create the individual flats as I can when selecting create flat frames from the pull down menu. Does the Sequencer get some of its options from what you have checked on the pull down menu?

I am sending my telescope to a remote site and want to automate the flat process at the end of the session. At dawn I can close the flip flat and manipulate it but I need 40 of each flats and flat darks.

I don't have my telescope with me to test as it is in shipping to the new site otherwise I would have tested it.

Thanks

Don

Re: Sequence to create 40 flat frames and 40 dark flat frames

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2026 7:22 pm
by yomamma
Will it work if I just shoot regular light frames with my lamp on, making sure I have the histogram correct?
For the dark flats just turn the lamp off and shoot the number I need with no changes to exposure/gain/etc...
Seems to me it would work.

Re: Sequence to create 40 flat frames and 40 dark flat frames

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2026 12:26 am
by archer1960
Note that you can get the same final result by shooting bias frames instead of dark flats, and they go faster...

Re: Sequence to create 40 flat frames and 40 dark flat frames

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2026 4:21 pm
by admin
Hi,

I think you have two options here

1) use the sequencer step to create a master flat. I am fairly sure that will use the options that have previously been set up manually when capturing a flat, so if you have previously ticked the box to keep individual frames, that should be respected. At least, I think so - please test this if you want to try this approach!

2) Just capture normal frames in the sequencer, making sure the light is in place and the exposure is correct. You can use the 'set frame type to <type>' step to set the frames to be tagged as flat frames (both in the file naming if enabled and in the frame metadata).

Remember that in lots of cases the way to do things with the sequencer is to build things up out of a number of individual steps (like lego bricks), rather than have a single step that does everything in one go.

cheers,

Robin